1911 Shooters: Your opinions please

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Mark Tyson

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Hello, 1911 owners and fans. Please tell me what, in your opinion, is the best 1911 style .45 caliber pistol suitable for concealed carry? How would you customize it once you bought it? Please tell me why, too. Assume that money is no object.
 
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Something like the Colt CCO... 4-4.25" slide on an "officer's model" shortened grip frame. Either that, or an Ed Brown "bobtail"-style frame. If money is no object, have a pistolsmith make it for you from scratch, or get an Ed Brown Kobra Carry.
 
I would think one of the best choices would be a Wilson Combat Stealth SDS. It is sized like a CCO, having an officer's frame and almost a commander length barrel and slide (at 4" instead of 4.25"). It has a heavy barrel and recoil is supposed to be quite moderate.

I have the CQB Compact from Wilson with the tapered cone barrel. It is about the same size, but only 2/3 the cost. There is no promised accuracy improvement for the Stealth over the CQB Compact and Wilson backs both guns equally. If money were no object, I would get the Stealth. For me, money was an object and so I got the CQB Compact and have been pleased with it.
 
The Commander slide on an Officer's frame is hard to beat. Making the frame Al would also lower the weight, making it more ideal for all day carry.

The bobtail mod is neat as well. The hardest thing to conceal on a 1911 is the frame. So anything to reduce it, i.e., shortened Officer's or bobtail, helps out.

I just went for a LW Colt Commander in .45. Had all the sharp edges removed, good sights added, and I was ready to go. In the winter, very is easy to conceal a full size all steel 1911 in a good outside the waistband holster.
 
I'd vote for a commander slide on a Fullsize frame. A true Commander.

I have a Kimber PRo Carry I'm very fond of. I have a Springfield Champion I like also (.25" shorter) and a Para Ordnance P13 that is a dream.

The full size grip is an advantage to me but I have large hands. Concealability doesn't differ much from the officers frame.

Lots of good makers out there. Find one you like and shoot it.
 
For carry, I like the idea of a trigger activated firing pin safety, so I'd go with either the Colt Commander style or the CCO.

I'd have an Ed Brown beavertail installed that "released" if you blew on it.
Ed Brown extended single safety.
Heine sights just because I prefer that sight picture.

Gunsmithed checked for smooth and reliable operation, trigger pull, extractor, etc.
Polished ramp and maximum sized chamber for feeding reliabilty.

Lighter recoil springs to reduce the possibilty of "limp wristing", etc.

Mild dehorning.

It's a Colt, so a new plunger tube installed that doesn't come loose and the grip bushings checked. ;)
 
Mark, "concealed carry" is a function of support gear and technique.

Since big guns stop fights and save lives, I carry a full sized 1911, a gummit sized Les Baer.

"The gun's too heavy." No, it's not and I like the weight. Gives me comfort. Get a good holster AND a good belt and you'll be fine.
 
Well, my absolute favorite CCW 1911 is a Springfield Professional.

One day I decided that I would henceforth tote full-size all-steel 1911's. I started doing so and haven't looked back.
 
Mark: Go with the full size 1911 instead of the chopped versions. It was designed to be a 5 inch gun, and the full size platforms tend to be more reliable. I prefer Colts, and Novaks offers what is termed a "Carry Package" at a reasonable price. There are other excellent smiths, but many have a long waiting list. In a new gun, I'd get a Colt 70 series and go from there.
 
Colt Defender like mine. Why, it's light, more accurate than you'll ever be and as reliable as the sun rising in the am. The only modification I made is the grips.
 

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Pretty much anything with a 4" or 4 1/4" bbl, full length grip, dehorned, with slim grips does me just fine. Aluminum or steel frame, I don't have a preference.

I carry a Kimber Pro Carry.

GT
 
Money is not a consideration? Get a full size or commander size pistol built to your specs by one of the well known pistolsmiths such as Victor Tibbets, Ted Yost, Richard Heinie, or numerous other good smiths. If time is a factor, Ed Brown can build you a custom gun in less than 90 days. Off the shelf guns that are very good include Ed Brown, Wilson, and Baer.
 
Colt Concealed Carry Model (CCO)

I would concur with my fellow members' recommendation of the Colt CCO (Concealed Carry Model). A write up is available here

Good luck, whatever you choose! :)
 
I drove myself carzy trying to find a CCW .45. I have big hands, and all these "perty little 1911s" were exactly that, perty but did not fit my hand. There is only about 6 or 8 ounces difference to stay full-sized. So, the PO P14-45 goes where I go.
 
Glock 26

Oops, sorry wrong thread :).

Any of the Kimber Compacts are nice. I have a buddy with one and it outshoots his full-size Kimber Custom Classic at 25 yards.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
Another "tote a steel gov't model in a quality holster attached to a quality gun belt" comment.

As for which gov't model: Which ever you have determined is reasonably accurate and utterly reliable subsequant to a minimum of 200 rounds of range time.
 
If you think a factory Para-Ord has "gnat's butt accuracy," you need to practice more. Then get a quality gun. :neener:
 
My perfect carry 1911 would be a full size government slide with a shorter grip. Basically a 1911 version of the Kahr P9/40 Covert. Unfortunately, I don't think there is such an animal.

I don't know why manufacturers always just shorten the gun for carry models. Usually, they never even list height of the gun in their brochure specifications. It's always the butt of the gun that seems to stick out. The barrel just lays flat against the body.
 
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